“Did scientologists train our Home Guards?” Jeevan Virkar sounds puzzled as he repeats our question. The former Commandant General Home Guards and Director Civil Defence asks for a few minutes to check his facts. He calls back promptly. “Yes, a group of Scientology volunteers did train a few of our Home Guards and Civil Defence trainers in 2009. The programmes focused on improving interpersonal communication and leadership qualities.” The scientologists, however, have a more sweeping story.

Going by online reports on the work of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers India Goodwill Tour, these volunteers did more than just work on the participants’ communication skills. In reports that were written only a little after 26/11, the volunteers are said to have trained the Home Guards and Civil Defence trainers on disaster management so thoroughly, that they are now better equipped to serve the people of Maharashtra. This, though, leaves Virkar even more puzzled. “The main focus of the scientologists was to develop human beings and leaders. They may call the course by whatever name, but it had nothing to do with disaster management.”

Strangely, scientology, which is accepted as a religion (and dismissed as a cult by non-believers) abroad, hardly has a presence in Mumbai.

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